Report - Belle Vue, Doncaster Rovers FC - 27/01/07

[RTID]

As promised, revisited Belle Vue today. Had a decent look this time.

Former home of Doncaster Rovers football club, the place has been torn to shreds by the scrap man and the sale of items from the old place a few weeks back. It's started to be chavved already. Many more ways in since last week (which Sif and I didn't know about until we'd got in the hard way!! ) and it really is only a matter of time until someone burns down the Main Stand. If you want to have a look, get in quick.

Was slightly disappointed to not be able to access downstairs in the Main Stand. Changing rooms etc... remain undiscovered at the moment.

It's amazing the difference in a month. The place has totally lost it's feel and magic, and standing where I stood on the terrace such a short time ago felt almost alien. I was also amazed how much the Main Stand smelled old & damp and more amazed that a professional football club were still using this so recently. It really was time to move, but at the time it didn't feel as far gone as it obviously was.

Nice to see the stench of piss was still present in and around the toilets. Some things never change!

Lots of pics. Many of them crap, but I hope you like them


Inside the Main Stand

The main man!

Stairs up to Main stand seating

Entrance from car park into Main stand

Top of the stairs into the stand

Looking towards the Rossington (Away) end from the Main stand.

Looking towards the Town end from the Main stand

Looking towards the Pop side (where I used to stand) from the Main stand

The PA room. No idea what the fluffy handcuffs were for!!

A discarded phone on steps down from the top of the Main stand

A few seats remain in the Directors box

Top left corner of the Main stand as you look at it from the front

 

[RTID]

Re: Belle Vue, Doncaster Rovers proper REPORT - 27/01/07

Into the bowels

One of the turnstile gates on the Main stand from behind

Walk down from the Directors box into the Main stand. Very red!

Looking up from the away players tunnel

Another view from the away tunnel

Going up towards the Directors box

Sif thinking he's a Director!

Another Main stand view towards the Rossington end

Behind the Main stand terrace

Entrance into the ground, Town end of Main stand terrace

The remains of the old Town end

Inside the shed shown in the previous pic. I think this was an old Police control box from years ago.

Long since dis-used steps into the Town end

Top of the Town end, looking towards the Main stand. Executive boxes (porta cabins ) used to be here until they were removed a few days ago.

Towards Main stand again. Taken from the old walkway to the executive boxes.

Looking down and back from the top of the Town end. New Racecourse stand going up in the distance.

The old Town end steps from the other side.

 

[RTID]

Re: Belle Vue, Doncaster Rovers proper REPORT - 27/01/07

Onto the Pop side.

Toilets.

Turnstile booths, where I passed through on countless Saturdays.

Another angle of the same booths, now less turnstiles

Snack bar. Notice thanking customers for their custom, and a mention of not being invited to tender for the contract at the new stadium.

A very desolate Pop terrace, looking towards Town end and the previous turnstiles.

Main stand from my old position on the Pop side. It didn't feel a bit like home any more...

Rossington (away) end.

Mobile phone pics as my camera was full and battery dead by this point.

Old floodlight pylon. Now used as a comms mast. Still live, btw!!

On top of the Rossington end. 5 a-side pitch for kids parties.

Beckham and Gerrard at Belle Vue? Oh yes!

Looking towards Pop side from 5 a-side pitch

Rossington end terracing. A little bit of metal the scrap man missed.

Main stand from Rossington end

Away turnstiles

Evidence of the struggle and brute force required to remove the turnstiles which were to be sold!

Back on the Main stand side.

Inside snack bar Rossington end of the Main stand terrace. I wouldn't eat something that's been on that hot plate!!

Pukka pies? Not from here any more.

End of Main stand

A bit of old crush barrier not taken away by the scrap man.

Every derelict site has to have one of these!

Looking at the foundations of the recent dug outs, and the base of the tiny old brick dug outs.

And that's all my photos. Sif will have more, I'm sure.